Categories: phd
Tags: thesis
Date: 01 October 2008 21:59:39
When I eventually stopped procrastinating, I spent today reading the methodology chapters from a couple of completed (and passed!) theses. I think another piece of advice I'd give anyone starting out is not to try to read someone else's thesis too soon into the course, as it will be intimidating. But around about the time that you have collected a bit of your own data, start taking a look at one or two - try your department as they should have copies of theses recently completed by their own students. By this point you should have a bit more of a clue and it will help to get you thinking about how you might frame your own writing-up, even if the actual subject of the other person's thesis is not all that similar to your own.
My current problem is that the chapters I have just read by other people are both very good, and it is massively tempting to plagiarise them! (Don't worry, I won't do that, I promise!). I'm quite pleased though that I have also, while I was reading them, been thinking about other things I can include that they hadn't, which will add to the originality quotient. I hope! (of course, it could just add to the waffle quotient, if I'm honest!).